Perfect Deer Rifle
01-16-2002, 10:03 PM
#11
Fork Horn
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Manotick Ontario Canada
Posts: 115
RE: Perfect Deer Rifle
I have two "perfect" deer rifles I'd like to see built.
One would be a Ruger "Mini" autoloader in .250 Savage, and the other would be a Remington 7400 in .358 Winchester. Both of these rifles would be topped with a Bushnell Holosight, and equipped with a detachable synthetic sling.
Can't help with the Sako and Tikka info - I don't think of bolts as acceptable deer rifles much less "perfect" ones.
One would be a Ruger "Mini" autoloader in .250 Savage, and the other would be a Remington 7400 in .358 Winchester. Both of these rifles would be topped with a Bushnell Holosight, and equipped with a detachable synthetic sling.
Can't help with the Sako and Tikka info - I don't think of bolts as acceptable deer rifles much less "perfect" ones.
01-17-2002, 08:27 AM
#15
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Pulaskiville
Posts: 3,533
RE: Perfect Deer Rifle
Rick...just curious as to why you don't consider a bolt an "acceptable" action.
I don't like a bolt much either...cause I'm a lefty. I just wondered what your reason was.
I don't like a bolt much either...cause I'm a lefty. I just wondered what your reason was.
01-17-2002, 09:00 AM
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Caribou ME USA
Posts: 298
RE: Perfect Deer Rifle
I'd pick the one that fits me the best. The best advice I ever received was from my father when I was looking for my first deer rifle. He took me to a reputable shop and had me look and feel at all the different makes and models. He then took me to another shop where I looked at different makes and models. Pick the one that you like and fits you well. If it is a Sako, that's the one you should buy, same if it is a Ruger, Tikka, Remington or whatever.
My personal favorite is a Sako Hunter in 308 with a leupold Vari X-II.
My personal favorite is a Sako Hunter in 308 with a leupold Vari X-II.
01-17-2002, 09:09 AM
#17
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Bossier City LA United States
Posts: 2,425
RE: Perfect Deer Rifle
I don't think there is such a thing as a perfect deer rifle. I say this because you basically settle on the best compromise since no rifle is "perfect" for every situation. I like a Savage 116 in 300 Win Mag. It is great for hunting long pipelines and open fields, but not necessarily that good in tight quarters for close-range shots. That is why I also have other guns in various chamberings and action types.
01-17-2002, 02:17 PM
#18
Typical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Greensboro NC USA
Posts: 563
RE: Perfect Deer Rifle
The "perfect deer rifle", that is a hard one. So many variables to consider. But....
It would have to be a Mauser style action, with a Dakota 3 position Win. M-70 style safety, a Brownell M-70 style custom bolt handle, a Pet Grisel style floorplate/trigger guard, and a full 3 way adjustable trigger, for pull weight, creep and travel, set for 3#, zero creep, minimal overtravel. The barrel would have to be a Hart or Lilja SS match, countered to a #3 contour cut back to 22". It would be chamber in 8mmX.284 Win. The action and barrel would be acid vapor blackened. The scope would be a Swarovski PH 2.5-10x42mm 30mm tube, set in Talley rings and mounts. Sling would be a 1.25" standard military competition style leather sling, since this is what I am used to. The stock would have be a McMillan.
It would have to be a Mauser style action, with a Dakota 3 position Win. M-70 style safety, a Brownell M-70 style custom bolt handle, a Pet Grisel style floorplate/trigger guard, and a full 3 way adjustable trigger, for pull weight, creep and travel, set for 3#, zero creep, minimal overtravel. The barrel would have to be a Hart or Lilja SS match, countered to a #3 contour cut back to 22". It would be chamber in 8mmX.284 Win. The action and barrel would be acid vapor blackened. The scope would be a Swarovski PH 2.5-10x42mm 30mm tube, set in Talley rings and mounts. Sling would be a 1.25" standard military competition style leather sling, since this is what I am used to. The stock would have be a McMillan.
01-17-2002, 08:13 PM
#20
Fork Horn
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Manotick Ontario Canada
Posts: 115
RE: Perfect Deer Rifle
Ridge Runner:
I'm surprised to hear that.
I remember Ruger offering auto's in .243 and .308 for a short while but these were soon pulled off the market. My assumptions were (1) that the rifle/action wasn't able to handle these cartridges due to pressure and (2) that this rifle was the same as the "Mini".
It appears that these autos must have been built on a different action.
However, if my assumptions were correct, the .250 would have been the perfect solution, being shorter than the .243 and operating at a lower pressure level.
Oh well! I guess I'll have to come up with a different dream rifle.
Pro-Line:
My opinion is based on where I hunt and how I hunt.
I hunt in Ontario, where the bush is thick, and few shots are over 30 yds.
I am also a still hunter by choice, however, I will participate in drives, and other methods as long as it's not stand hunting.
Since every place you stop is "new", and when still hunting or tracking, every step you take changes your "shooting lanes", unseen intervening brush is a major factor. I'd estimate that between 30% and 75% of shots can be lost to unseen brush.
This makes a the potential for a quick follow-up shot an necessity. Since a lever, pump or autoloader can get off a second aimed shot in half the time of a bolt, and 3 shots in the time it takes a bolt to shoot 2, there is a clear advantage to the fast action.
If my hunting consisted of sitting in a blind or in a tree overlooking a large open area, action type would be of little consequence.
Rick
I'm surprised to hear that.
I remember Ruger offering auto's in .243 and .308 for a short while but these were soon pulled off the market. My assumptions were (1) that the rifle/action wasn't able to handle these cartridges due to pressure and (2) that this rifle was the same as the "Mini".
It appears that these autos must have been built on a different action.
However, if my assumptions were correct, the .250 would have been the perfect solution, being shorter than the .243 and operating at a lower pressure level.
Oh well! I guess I'll have to come up with a different dream rifle.
Pro-Line:
My opinion is based on where I hunt and how I hunt.
I hunt in Ontario, where the bush is thick, and few shots are over 30 yds.
I am also a still hunter by choice, however, I will participate in drives, and other methods as long as it's not stand hunting.
Since every place you stop is "new", and when still hunting or tracking, every step you take changes your "shooting lanes", unseen intervening brush is a major factor. I'd estimate that between 30% and 75% of shots can be lost to unseen brush.
This makes a the potential for a quick follow-up shot an necessity. Since a lever, pump or autoloader can get off a second aimed shot in half the time of a bolt, and 3 shots in the time it takes a bolt to shoot 2, there is a clear advantage to the fast action.
If my hunting consisted of sitting in a blind or in a tree overlooking a large open area, action type would be of little consequence.
Rick
